Electrical Connector Shell Rear Wall Grounding Configuration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing USB connectors face challenges with electromagnetic interference (EMI) due to high transmitting speeds, and the current grounding configurations are inefficient, particularly during the plating process of mounting legs, which are separated and require individual plating.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector design features a shell with a rear wall bent from a vertical edge of one sidewall, extending horizontally to the other sidewall, with mounting legs that can be plated simultaneously, improving grounding and reducing EMI by aligning signal contacts closer to mounting legs for effective grounding and efficient plating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mounting legs are separated and plated individually, then grounding configuration can be optimized, but manufacturing complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple mounting legs into a single integrated structure where they share a common base and are positioned to be plated simultaneously. The mounting legs are arranged in a configuration that allows them to be treated as one unit during the plating process, eliminating the need for separate plating operations while maintaining effective grounding paths.
2Manufacturing precision
If mounting legs are plated separately, then each leg can be optimized independently, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the mounting legs with pre-positioned features such as alignment pins, uniform thickness sections, and standardized mounting hole locations that are prepared in advance. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the legs are plated together, the plating process can be applied uniformly to all legs simultaneously, maintaining consistent quality without requiring separate plating operations.
3Reliability
If signal contacts are aligned closer to mounting legs, then grounding effectiveness improves, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions signal contacts closer to mounting legs by utilizing the vertical dimension and rearward positioning within the housing rather than increasing horizontal complexity. The contacts are arranged in a compact configuration that places them in close proximity to the mounting legs along the depth axis, improving grounding effectiveness while maintaining a simple overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector, including an insulative housing, a plurality of conductive contacts received in the insulative housing and a metallic shell covering the insulative housing, the shell has a top wall, a bottom wall, a left and a right sidewalls connecting the top wall and the bottom wall, and a rear wall. The rear wall has a first part bent from a rear edge of the left sidewall and extending toward the right sidewall and a second part bent from a rear edge of the right sidewall and extending toward the left sidewall. Both the first and the second parts have a mounting leg extending downwardly, and the right and the left sidewalls have retaining legs.